Skip to main content

uberAIR Looks to Take “Flightsharing” to the Skies by 2023

uberair landing pad
Uber

With Earth’s population passing seven billion humans, overcrowding is fast becoming a significant problem. While flying cars still seem to be a pipe-dream, some clever entrepreneurs will need to figure out more efficient means to shuttle city dwellers from A to B. Not surprisingly, Uber is taking on that challenge.

Say what you want about the company’s ethics, Uber has dominated the ridesharing business. Now, they’re looking to do the same for “flightsharing.” The new uberAIR concept is exactly what it sounds like. It will allow well-to-do urbanites to summon flying cars for short-hop flights across the city. The flying pods will use VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) technology to shuttle passengers from point-to-point, eliminating the inconvenience of “traditional” road-based traffic. Since the pods will only be designed for trips of 50-100 miles, uberAIR is not aiming to replace commercial air travel. It’s instead meant to be a premium alternative to driving and less of a headache than hopping a flight.

UBERAIR: Closer than you think | UBER

In the demo video, uberAIR works similar to today’s process of hailing an Uber ride. A smartly dressed woman quickly confirms an uberAIR flight via her mobile phone. She looks skyward at a handful of VTOL aircraft hovering above the office building in front of her before heading inside. After a quick elevator ride to the roof, she breezes through a checkpoint by scanning a QR code on her phone, then walks to the launchpad outside where her flightshare is already waiting. In theory, the process isn’t any different than a standard ride with Uber, except that you would need to find the nearest helipad rather than, say, the nearest street corner.

Recommended Videos

The company says pilotless cars are the ultimate goal. At launch, however, the uberAIR cars will feature human pilots both for safety reasons and to ease passenger concerns over flying in an autonomous vehicle.

Uber has announced uberAIR demo flights will launch in 2020 with commercial operations to follow in Dallas and Los Angeles by 2023. They’re also seeking a third, international city to join the trial program. While a five-year timeline seems awfully optimistic, Uber is one of the most ambitious and well-funded tech companies in the world right now. So, we could see the skies crowded with flying car traffic much sooner than expected.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Topics
Minimalist travel tips: How I pack light without sacrificing comfort
Who knew packing less could make traveling this much easier? Here’s how I do it
Airplane in mountains

If you travel often, you know the drill: Dragging heavy bags through terminals, juggling boarding passes, and waiting forever at baggage claim. Over time, all of this adds up to stress before you even reach your destination.

I’ve been there, and honestly, it used to ruin trips for me. But then I discovered minimalist travel, and everything changed. It’s about skipping the unnecessary bulk and still having everything you need right at your fingertips.

Read more
These are America’s most outdoorsy states, ranked by new study
Vermont takes the No. 1 spot
Vermont

Who loves the great outdoors the most? A new study from outdoor brand KÜHL just crunched the numbers, analyzing Google search data for 14 popular activities, from hiking and camping to surfing and skiing, across all 50 states. The results, adjusted per 100,000 residents, reveal which states are truly the most outdoorsy in America.

At the very top is Vermont, where about 1 in 12 residents are searching for outdoor activities. That’s 8,515 searches per 100,000 people, making it the nation’s most outdoorsy state. No surprise here: Vermonters have a long tradition of embracing the outdoors, from the country’s oldest long-distance hiking trail to some of the best ski slopes. Skiing, camping, and kayaking rank especially high with locals.

Read more
These are the most beautiful cities in Europe
These destinations will take your breath away
Annecy France

If you’ve ever been to Europe, you already know how stunning it is. I’ve always been fascinated by Europe, not just for its beauty, but because it’s so different from America. With history that stretches back centuries, walking through European cities feels like stepping into a living museum.

Sure, every city in Europe has its own charm, but some just stand out as truly breathtaking. I reached out to travel experts to hear their picks for the most beautiful cities in Europe, and sprinkled in a few of my personal favorites too. These destinations are some of the best places to travel in Europe, whether you’re planning your next trip or just daydreaming.

Read more